Lessons learned on the job

An oft-quoted truism of my field is, "Journalism is literature in a hurry."

Every day, journalists scurry up until deadline in time for the day's stories, fresh and crisp off the press, to hit the news stands. And every day, readers depend on their local newspaper to deliver accurate and up-to-date information about the people, places and issues that shape their world.

In recent days and months, however, I have found myself wondering how this role of the journalist is to be upheld if people are not willing to talk and let others speak about events, both good and bad, that happen in the daily goings on of life?

Sure it gives people a sense of pride and accomplishment when they can tell a story about great achievements and positive people, rather than natural disasters or human error, but the truth is, both need to be talked about.

This requires trust between the newspaper and its sources.

I'm not talking about a trust which agrees to withhold information or keep quite, either.

Rather, a relationship in which two entities share the responsibility of informing the public because — let's face it — public institutions and individuals need the paper just as much as we need you.

In a crisis or disagreement, the community would be at a loss without an outlet to communicate their side of the story and the paper would have no story to print without people who are willing to speak out.

I understand that for some, past experiences with news media may leave them wary of disclosing information, but is it possible to start over and recognize that not all journalists are the same; not all journalists are just out to get the next story.

We too care about our communities.

We too have feelings.

We too have a voice.

I must ask at what cost are people willing to keep quite about "bad" or less than positive incidents at the expense of the public's right to know what is going on in their community?

On behalf of myself, and, if I may add, others in the journalism profession, we ask you to consider the newspaper as a platform to put the best interests of others at heart even amidst unfavorable situations.

Part of what makes a paper great is not just the journalists who write the stories, but the people who tell them. Those people include you and your family, friends and co-workers who each experience a different view of life, including the positive and the negative.

Please share and allow others to do the same.

Aimee Hornberger is the health and education reporter for the Columbia Basin Herald.